According to Yahoo.com, Henry Cavill (“The Tudors”) has been cast as the new “Superman” in the next film in the franchise, which is slated to be released in December 2012. The working title of the film is “Superman: Man of Steel”.

Cavill, 27, will play the dual roles of mild-mannered newspaperman Clark Kent and his high-flying alter ego in the film, which Warner Bros. will release in December 2012.

Zack Snyder (“300”) will direct from a script written by David S. Goyer and based on a story that Goyer developed with “Inception” director Christopher Nolan, who will serve as a producer.